The Iloilo city disaster (risk reduction and management) council on Tuesday, July 29 recommended to place Iloilo city under a state of calamity “due to the impact of the southwest monsoon and tropical storms Crising, Dante and Emong.”
“I fully support the council’s recommendation and will work closely with the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) to expedite the approval process,” said Mayor Raisa Treñas, who also chairs the council, in a statement.
Data presented by the CDRRM office during their emergency meeting showed that as of July 28, the inclement weather last week affected 56,881 individuals; 44,723 due to flooding and 12,158 due to storm surge.
Treñas said the data complies with the criteria set by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010, which authorizes the declaration when disasters cause many injuries or deaths, destroy infrastructure, and severely affect daily living, jobs and travel.
Along with the recommendation to declare, the council also approved the utilization of PHP21.5 million from the quick response fund of the local DRRM fund.
The fund will be utilized for the development of relocation sites in Barangays West Haboghabog and San Juan at PHP20 million; food assistance for displaced families worth PHP1.4 million; and procurement of seeds for affected farmers amounting to PHP100,000.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod is expected to tackle the declaration during its regular session on Wednesday July 30, 2025. (with pna)
